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The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
The latest updates | May, 2021
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From the Friends
Our Board Is Growing!
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We are happy to announce that our board will have three new directors this month: Leslie Lopez, Lee Knottnerus, and Alex Earl (re-joining after a short hiatus). We were also happy to welcome Jim Nindel-Edwards to the board at the annual meeting in January.
In order to make growing our board more efficient, we’ve changed our bylaws to allow the board to vote in directors on our own instead of having Friends members vote for them during our yearly annual meetings. This change will allow us to recruit and welcome new directors throughout the year, and allow us to use the annual meetings as a time to update members on our work.
As the board, we consider ourselves accountable to the community, and we take that responsibility seriously. We plan to use this newsletter, as well as our annual meeting, to provide that accountability in a way that is interesting and inspiring to you.
Please join us in welcoming these new board members!
-Drew Smith-Sahnow and the Friends Board of Directors
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Ridgefield Refuge Complex News & Events |
Gate times for both units: 6:00AM – 8:30PM
SEASONAL TRAIL UPDATES:
The Carty Lake Carty Unit Entrance trail opens May 1st
Don't forget that the Oaks-to-Wetlands Trail, within the Oak Restoration area, is closed Thursdays for trail maintenance.
The Kiwa Trail opening is postponed until further notice due to a Sandhill Crane nesting attempt. We will share all updates on our social media accounts as well as in this monthly newsletter.
The previously postponed fee program was restored on March 1st, 2021. See information below on the fee structure and valid passes.
The Refuge is not able to sell passes out of the office, but you can pay for them at the fee station. For more information about National Access passes and how to acquire those please visit store.USGS.gov/recreational-passes. A list of passes you can use at this site is also linked here. Or Become a Member of the Friends and choose any level over $60 to receive a pass as part of your membership (optional, please check the box)!
NOTE: The Washington State Discover Pass is not valid on Federally managed public lands, including National Wildlife Refuges.
Don’t forget to continue to check the Refuge2020.info website for project updates, like the Steigerwald Lake reconnection project, Carty Unit Oaks-to-Wetlands Trail developments, and more!
To feel more connected to nature and the Refuge while staying home, stay tuned to the Friends Social Media streams on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - we are working to share activities, videos of nature on and off the Refuge, and more. Social links can be found at the bottom.
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2021 Spring Break Youth Art Contest Winners! |
The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge are proud to announce the winners of our 2021 Spring Break Youth Art Contest!
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021 Spring Break Youth Art Contest winners, and thanks to all of the participants for your beautiful and unique interpretations of our Refuge!
This contest was free to enter thanks to the generous contributions of our sponsor, Craft Warehouse!
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Featured Image: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Category,1st Place - Alana Naipo, Kindergarten
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From the Contact Station
At a distance still
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Mid-April, the Contact Station bird feeder went back up. It will be filled on Fridays, or Saturday mornings, and should last through the weekend at least. You can look forward to Red-winged Blackbirds at this time of year, California Scrub Jay, Black-capped Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch as our usual visitors. New to the feeder on Sunday, April 25, were two Eurasian Collared Dove. They take up a lot of room on the dish at the bottom, so we are hoping... Keep Reading...
-Susan Setterberg, Contact Station Volunteer
- Photo by Susan Setterberg
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Cathlapotle Plankhouse Updates & Events
Second Sunday Series starts Virtually in May
"Contemporary Matriarchy on Canoe Journey"
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Join us for an intimate conversation with women from the Chinook Indian Nation about skippering, leadership, and motherhood on the iyagatł imał (Columbia River). Start the day with trail tips and family activities, activity kits available for pickup in advance. Activity bags will be available to pick up ahead of time, First Saturdays of the month, at Seasons Coffee Shop in the Old Liberty Theater (while supplies last).
Seasons Coffee Shop at the Old Liberty Theater is located in Historic Downtown Ridgefield. Stop by to get your activity bags, and pick up a coffee, or pastries and gifts! Gifts for sale inside the coffee shop are all local artists and authors, shop and support within our area!
EVENT: Sunday, May 9th, 2021, @ 10 & 11 AM, online!
Second Sundays in 2021 will be virtual and can be viewed on and after the event dates on the Friends Facebook and Youtube Channels. Find out more about the event, including speaker bios and craft info, on our website here!
ałqui,
-Juliet McGraw, Friends of RNWR Community & Cultural Education Director
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Preserve America is a national initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; the U.S. Departments of Defense, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and the President's Council on Environmental Quality. RNWR Page here.
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Habitat Restoration Updates & Events
April 2021 Habitat Recap
April marked the end of freezing nighttime temperatures and the beginning of the spraying season for our Habitat Program. Herbicide treatments on invasive and noxious plants such as Poison Hemlock, Reed Canary Grass, Tansy Ragwort, Shiny Geranium, Yellow-flag Iris, etc. have been ongoing at the River ‘S’ Unit, Bachelor Island, and the Carty Unit. This last month also marked the beginning of Thursday closures at the Oaks to Wetlands Trail to safely allow our staff and volunteers to apply herbicide treatments and complete necessary restoration work at this site. These work parties and closures are set to continue every Thursday throughout the summer and into the fall!
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Springtime has also brought about ideal growing conditions in the high tunnel. Outside the high tunnel, in the raised bed we constructed, we have Common Camas coming in, which we sowed just last fall. Inside the high tunnel, we are currently propagating Red Osier Dogwood, Red-flowering Currant, Oregon Grape, Osoberry, Wild Rose, Douglas Spirea, and Black Cottonwood. Not to mention the fact that we have a large variety of potted plants that are being stored outside the high tunnel as well. These plants will eventually be transferred to the field once they mature and become strong! Soon we will begin wetland surveys to identify and map the locations of certain aquatic invasive plants (such as Ricefield Bulrush).
- Emily Lane, Friends of RNWR Habitat Restoration Technician
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Check out what species are being seen on the Refuge here.
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Ridgefield First Saturdays - Mayday Spring Festival
May 1, 2021
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The City of Ridgefield is so excited to welcome our community back to Overlook Park for First Saturday on May 1st! Join them downtown to celebrate the anniversary of Ridgefield First Saturdays with First Saturday vendors, RAA Spring Art Show, scavenger hunt, and more!
They will be strictly following all state guidelines for masking and social distancing.
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Species Spotlight
Wilson’s Snipe
Gallinago delicate
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A bird you may not know is a great sign of spring, is the Wilson’s Snipe! Of course, if you aren’t looking, or don’t have a keen eye, you may never know they are even around.
The old practical joke of a snipe hunt involves getting someone to wait out in a marsh at night, holding a bag, with promises of flushing a snipe into the bag. This is not a recommended technique for seeing snipe: a much better way is to look for the birds in open wetlands during spring and summer. Listen and watch for their aerial winnowing displays, performed ...Keep Reading...
-Samantha Zeiner, Friends of RNWR Administrative Coordinator
- Photo by Susan Setterberg
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Friends Photo Contest Merchandise |
Check out our store items, with more being added all the time! We have mugs that change colors, tote bags, sweatshirts, and more, all featuring our 2019 and 2020 Refuge Photo Contest winning photos. Get your friends and family (or yourself!) a gift that will remind them of nature's beauty and support a wonderful cause!
If there isn't something you like, you can always donate, or buy a membership to the Friends in someone's name - an annual gift program that supports wildlife, habitat, volunteers, education, and more.
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Become a Business Alliance Member!
As a member of the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Business Alliance, you invest in one of our urban metropolitan area’s most unique and diverse natural and cultural resources. Click here to find out more
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Board Seeking New Members
Or, Join a Committee
The Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit dedicated to promoting educational and cultural programs of the Ridgefield NWR, and protecting and enhancing its wildlife habitat. We are currently seeking candidates to serve on our board of directors. We are recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds and skills for several open board positions, in addition to candidates interested in serving on a committee (board membership not required).
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Join the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Board for their monthly meeting. Meetings start at 5pm every second Monday of the month and will be on Zoom until further notice, contact us to join in!
May 10th, June 14th, July 12th, August 9th, September 13th, October 18th (moved for Indigenous Peoples Day), November 8th, December 13th
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When you link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the Friends, you help us earn donations from Fred Meyer Community Rewards. It doesn't change your regular personal shopping and fuel rewards, but it does make a meaningful contribution to our work on the Refuge. It's easy to sign up. Just click here. You can search for us by our name, Friends of Ridgefield NWR, or by our non-profit number, PK822. Then, every time you shop and use your Rewards Card, you are helping earn a donation to support the Friends and Ridgefield NWR. If you do not have a Rewards Card, ask at the Customer Service desk of any FM store.
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Log on to smile.amazon.com and shop as you usually would - .5% of your purchase will be donated directly to the Friends! Use the link with your existing user name and password. When prompted to select a charity, choose the Friends of Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. |
Giving Assistant makes it easy to donate to Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge! Simply shop online, earn cash back, and donate as much as 30% of your purchase price - Giving Assistant facilitates the whole process. Now, you can help change the world for free while saving money at over 3,000 popular online retailers like Home Depot, ULTA, and Macy’s! Start HERE! Thanks for being an EcoShopper and helping the Refuge!
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Would you like to enjoy a cup of coffee from Ridgefield's Seasons Coffee after a morning hike on the Refuge? Lunch at Vinnie's Pizza in-between the River 'S' and Carty Units? Dinner and drinks at the Historic Sportsman's Restaurant and Lounge after a busy day of wildlife viewing (5% off a meal with member card!)? Or maybe you would like to get a discount on some supplies at Shovel & Thumb or Backyard Bird Shop? How about a night out at Ilani?
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The Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge promote the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of native and endangered birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. We focus on our local community and the Pacific Northwest. |
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Business Alliance Members: |
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Granting Organizations & Partners: |
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Header Photo Credit: Raul Moreno, 2017, 2nd Place, Refuge Photo Contest |
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Want regular updates on Refuge events and happenings? Follow the Friends on your favorite social media by clicking the logos below to stay connected even when you are off the Refuge.
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